Many prominent people have fallen victim to so-called cancel culture since the term entered widespread usage in 2019. It rarely seems to matter how long ago the ‘cancelled’ person made the comments that prompt their ostracism or whether they show genuine remorse. In most cases, the court of public opinion shows little mercy.
I won’t name any cancelled individuals or their opinions. For one thing, I wouldn’t want to remind readers of comments that may already have caused them discomfort. For another, this article isn’t about my views on specific instances where cancel culture has applied.
I often wonder whether some of the most notorious cancellation cases have made people nervous about discussing workplace inclusion matters. Is a fear of being ostracised making it harder for colleagues to hold frank conversations at work? I believe so.